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Why Is West Egg Important In The Great Gatsby

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An analysis of The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald indicated that the setting of the book contributed to the theme of money by comparing the two classes of people in the West and East egg, giving detailed descriptions of places based on the amount of money that it has, and establishing the feel of the ¨roaring twenties¨. In the first chapter, Nick introduces he is from West egg, calling it ¨ẗhe less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them¨ (Fitzgerald 5). East egg is described as being the most fashionable one, having the nickname ¨old money¨, meaning the inhabitants have achieved their wealth through inheritance, while the West egg is ¨new money¨, meaning …show more content…

On the opposite end of the spectrum, West eggers, such as Gatsby, are dreamers, …show more content…

The valley is a place devoid of money, ¨where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens, [where] men move dimly and dread crumbling through the powdery air¨ (Fitzgerald 23). While the city is described as alive and brimming with energy, the valley is a place of despair and failure. George Wilson is a good symbol for the valley, where he has given up all will to do anything and fades into the dull grey surrounding him. Myrtle on the other hand has not given up, where she must “cross a vast social divide to reach the territory of the upper class” (Donaldson 192). This can be seen when she has an affair with Tom Buchanan and “pitifully attempts to put on an airs” (Donaldson 192). These extreme differences all come down to the money inside these places, where it’s made obvious the valley of ashes is a place without money and is crumbling while the city is circulating with money and is buzzing with

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